Desiccant cap and method of production and use

ABSTRACT

A desiccant cap for a container and method of production the cap are disclosed. The cap is made to provide long term hermetic sealing to content kept in the container by providing hermetically sealed layer on the opening of the container that is to be removed only before first use of the content of the container. The cap further comprise case with a desiccant material that is adapted to keep the moisture in the container after first use under a defined level  by drying moist air accessing the desiccant material through passages made in a porous sealing layer. This way the desiccant cap provides hermetic sealing until first use and on-going drying of moisture inside the container after first use, and keeps the desiccant material protected from moisture ambient until first opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Containers and caps adapted for holding content for long terms need to meet certain requirements in order to provide their content with the required long-term conditions. When that content is specifically sensitive to influence of exposure to ambient effects, such as humidity, oxygen, etc. the container and cap need to be adapted to prevent, as much as possible entrance of air, humidity and oxygen into it. Usually the permeable part of such container and cap is the interface of its cap or cover with the container. When the cap, or cover, is adapted for repeating opening and closing, as opposed to one-time usage, this permeation is even greater. Meeting the protecting requirements of this container and cap become even harder to achieve when the container and cap should provide the protection for a very long period before first use and, to provide sufficient protection to its content to at least a pre-defined second term after it was opened for the first time. For example, when the content is a medicine or formulation, e.g. in powder, in pills or in capsules form, it needs to be protected from excessive exposure to humidity and/or oxygen, exposure that may be defined in terms of amount of humidity/oxygen entering the container when the container is closed and exposed to defined ambient humidity, temperature, etc. during a defined time period, for a term as long as several years. Once the container has been opened for temporary use and re-closed, its content need to be protected for a second period of time, and possibly need to ensure that a second set of requirements relating to, for example, amount of humidity, oxygen, etc. entering or existing in the container after re-closing, will be kept below defined levels during that second period of time. The second period of time may last, typically, for at least several months.

In order to protect the content of the container from humidity several methods and means were developed and are known in the art. Some involve extended sealing strength applied at the connection of the cap to the container, however once the container has been opened, this extended sealing is typically reduced. In order to reduce exposure of the content of the container to humidity that entered the container, whether before first opening or afterwards, a large use of desiccant materials is done. The desiccant material is provided or disposed in several ways. Some solutions position the desiccant material in the container among the capsules, others position it in the inner portion of the cap of a bottle-like container, or advise the user to drop some desiccant packets into the container after it was opened. U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,508 to Santoro et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,986,807 to Brunk and U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,277 to Santoro disclose a cap of a bottle which comprises a desiccant material enclosed within the cap of the bottle and further enclosed by a porous barrier. The efficiency of the desiccant material disposed and used according to this solution is diminished because the desiccant is exposed to the humidity trapped in the container from the time it was first sealed and during the first, longer storage term, before first use. During this long period of exposure to the humidity inside the container the absorption efficiency of the desiccant material is diminished. Some other solutions utilize large desiccant packet enclosed inside the cap and protruding into the space of the container, beyond the line of the neck of the container. Still other solutions place the desiccant as part of the wall of the container.

Solutions known in the art suffer of one or more disadvantages such as exposing and exhausting the internal desiccant packet to the humidity inside the container even before first use; provision of desiccant packets into the content of the container after first opening, which may be dangerous to very young or elderly users who may erroneously swallow desiccant packet instead of a pill; and use of large desiccant packet in the container cap, which protrudes into the container space and permits only a lip seal between cap and container, thus preventing before-use, long-term covering of the container by an hermetic disposable seal and a temper evident member, and preventing the sealing of the cap and container by a soft material at the interface.

There is a need for a cap and method of capping a container that will provide long-term sealing means adhere-able to the container in a first period, until first opening, and provision of inherent desiccant material which is exposed to ambient or internal conditions of the container only after first opening of the container (second period) and good sealing of the contact line between the container and its cap once the container body sealing means has been removed through first use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A desiccant cap for a container is disclosed, the cap comprising a case comprising first enclosure part defining a first space; a second enclosure part defining a second space, a desiccant case wholly encased within said first space, a first sealing layer and a second sealing layer, wherein said second sealing layer is attached onto the opening of said first enclosure part and completely closing said first space and said desiccant case in said first space, wherein said second sealing layer comprising one or more passages through it to allow passage of at least one of air, gas and humidity through it and wherein said first sealing layer is attached to said second sealing layer on its face facing away from said first space, said first sealing layer is adapted to prevent passage of humidity through it.

Said first space having a first diameter and a first depth, said second space having a second diameter and a second depth, said second diameter is bigger than said first diameter, said desiccant cap further comprising shoulders formed between said first and said second space enclosures, said shoulders defining a partitioning line between said first and said second enclosure spaces.

The first sealing layer comprising adhering means disposed over the outer perimeter of said first sealing layer on its face facing away from said first space, said adhering means is adapted to adhere said first sealing layer to the opening of said container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section illustration of a cap according to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a partial enlarged illustration of the cap of FIG. 1, according to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram depicting operations taken for the preparation of a cap according to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of usage of a cap according to embodiments of the present invention for closing a container;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a container and a cap after first opening, according to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram depicting the process of first closing of a container with a cap according to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow diagram depicting the process of first opening of a container, according to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is schematic illustration of a cap, according to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross section illustration of a cap according to embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 8A is a partial enlarged illustration of the cap of FIG. 8, according to embodiments of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

Reference is made now to FIG. 1, which is a schematic cross section illustration of cap 100, and to FIG. 1A, which is a partial enlarged illustration of the cap 100 according to embodiments of the present invention. Cap 100 may comprise, according to embodiments of the present invention, case 101 comprising first cylindrical enclosure part 102 defining a first enclosure space located farther from the open end of cap 100, having a first diameter and a first depth; and a second cylindrical enclosure part 104 defining a second enclosure space located proximal to the open end of cap 100 and having a second diameter and second depth. Enclosure part 104 may have a diameter bigger than the diameter of enclosure part 102. Enclosure part 102 and enclosure part 104 may be connected by connection shoulders 105, forming shoulders plane which is substantially perpendicular to a common central axis of case 101. Enclosure part 104 may be provided with fastening means, such as internal thread 103, adapted for providing fastening means to a container body, typically by threading on a respective thread made on the opening neck of the container (not shown). It will be appreciated that the fastening means may be realized using means other than internal thread 103, providing tight coupling of cap 100 to the container body when desired, such as snap-on means (not shown) or bayonet (not shown). The cap 100 may also include a child proof opening feature as is described farther below.

Cap 100 may further comprise, or may allow accommodating one or more desiccant packets 150 located within the enclosure space 102, so that it does not protrude beyond the plane of shoulders 105. Desiccant packet 150 may be loaded with any of the available absorbent materials adapted to meet the required conditions that need to be kept inside the container.

Cap 100 may further comprise sealing means arrangement comprising first layer 110 and second layer 112. First sealing layer 110 may be made of material suitable for long-term sealing, such as aluminum foil or plastic composite or the like. First sealing layer 110 may also provide a temper evident safety as known in the industry. Second sealing layer 112 may be made of a soft material such as carton pulp or foamed polymers that may provide good sealing between two surfaces when tightly pressed together, such as shoulders 105 and the corresponding outer surface of the container's opening (not shown), that will suffice the sealing requirements for the second term of use after first opening of the container. Sealing layers 110 and 112 may (but not must) be provided adhered to each other by a certain adhering force, as is explained herein after, with respect to FIG. 3. Sealing layer 112 may comprise one or more passages 112A allowing passage of air/gas/humidity through it into first enclosure part 102. Passage(s) 112A may be in the form of a porous area made in the central area of sealing layer 112, slightly distal from its circumference, or in the form of a single, or few holes made in the center of sealing layer 112. Alternatively or additionally, passage(s) 112A may be embodied by a breathing material occupying the central area of sealing layer 112, through which air can flow freely.

Sealing layers 110 and 112 may be attached onto shoulders 105 after desiccant packet 150 has been inserted into enclosure space of first enclosure part 102, so as to seal and close desiccant packet 150 inside enclosure part 102. Sealing layer 110 may be provided with adhering means 122A, such as adhesive material, that may be disposed over the outer face perimeter 122, for later use. Adhering means 122A may be that may be adapted to be activated and cured by application of ultrasonic or induction heating or by applying pressure onto the face provided with adhering means.

Reference is made to FIG. 2, which is a schematic flow diagram depicting operations done for the preparation of a cap, such as cap 100, according to embodiments of the present invention. In block 202 cap case 101 is provided. Cap case 101 which comprising first enclosure part 102 and second enclosure part 104 connected by shoulders 105. In block 204 one or more desiccant packets 150 are inserted into the space of first enclosure part 102. One or more desiccant packets 150 may be kept, before being inserted into case 101, in a dehumidified casing and may be made potentially active (for example, by removing a cover off the porous portion of packets 150). When inserted into case 101, desiccant packets should be ready to absorb humidity. In block 206 first and second sealing layers 110 and 112, that may be adhered to each other, are provided and are adhered to or inserted onto (block 208) shoulders 105 at plane 120 (FIGS. 1, 1A), so that layer 112 is facing into first enclosure part 102. At the end of this process cap 100 is ready for immediate use, as is explained herein below, or for long term storage because the active desiccant material in packets 150 is sealed within the space of first enclosure part 102 by sealing layers 110 hermetically attached to layer 112 and layer 112 is attached to layer to layer 102.

Reference is made now to FIG. 3, which is a schematic illustration of usage of cap 100 according to embodiments of the present invention for closing container 10 (shown only partially here, to not obscure the illustration with unnecessary elements). Container 10, optionally containing sensitive content, such as medicine, formulations, capsules, pills, etc. may be provided and cap 100, according to embodiments of the present invention may also be provided. Cap 100 may be tightly attached onto container 10, for example by threading cap 100 on threads 12 of container 10. When cap 100 has been tightly closed over container 10, adhering means 122A may be activated from the outside of container 10, for example by providing ultrasonic energy or by induction heating or pressure to activate adhering means 122A. At the end of this action sealing layer 110 is strongly and hermetically adhered onto opening 19 of container 10 along area 20.

Reference is made now to FIG. 4, which is a schematic illustration of container 10 and cap 100 after first opening, according to embodiments of the present invention. In order to open container 10 for the first time after it was closed, cap 100 may be removed, for example by unthreading it from container 10. Because sealing layer 110 is strongly adhered onto opening 19 of container 10 by first adhering force and sealing layer 112 is strongly adhered by second adhering force to, or inserted onto shoulders 105 of cap 100, and because sealing layer 110 is adhered to sealing layer 112 with less adhering force than both said first and said second adhering forces, or not adhered at all, when cap 100 is turned open the shearing effect of the turn of sealing layer 110 with respect to sealing layer 112 causes layers 110 and 112 to get apart. Sealing layer 110 remains adhered on opening 19 of container 10, thus keeping moisture from entering into it and providing temper evidence, and sealing layer 112 remains adhered to or inserted onto shoulders 105 of cap 100, providing surface 122B of sealing layer 112 ready to provide sealing on surface 20 when cap 100 is threaded back onto container 10 after sealing layer has been removed. In order to use the content of container 10, the user needs to remove sealing layer 110 off opening 19 of container 10. Opening container 10 and removal of the tamper evident sealing layer 110 exposes the content of container 10 to ambient influence until cap 100 is closed, and provides in-container controlled conditions.

Reference is made now to FIG. 5, which is a schematic flow diagram depicting the process of first-time closing of a container with a cap according to embodiments of the present invention. In block 502 a container, such as container 10 with its humidity sensitive material, and cap 100 according to embodiments of the present invention are provided. In block 504 cap 100 is tightly closed onto the opening of container 10, for example by turning and threading the cap onto the container. The circumference of sealing layer 110 that faces away from cap 100 is provided with adhesive means that may remotely be activated. In block 506 adhesive activation means, such as transmission of ultrasonic energy, is applied to container 10 and cap 100 causing adhesive 122A to adhere sealing layer 110 onto the opening of container 10.

Reference is made now to FIG. 6 which is a schematic flow diagram depicting the process of first-time opening of container 10, according to embodiments of the present invention. In block 602 opening sequence of operations, for example operations required when child-proof mechanism is present, so as to turn open cap 100 off container 10 are taken. In block 604 shearing forces induced by the turn of cap 100 with respect to container 10 cause separation of sealing layer 110 off sealing layer 112. Removal of cap 100 from container 10 leaves container 10 tightly sealed with sealing layer 110 and leaves desiccant packets 150 securely kept in enclosure part 102 of cap 100. As is evident from FIG. 4 and the process depicted in FIG. 6, once sealing layer 110 is removed from container 10 prior to first-time use of container 10 content, usage of the content may begin. At this stage closing of container 10 by cap 100 enables sealing of container 10 by cap 100's seal layer 112 being firmly attached onto on surface 122B, hermetically isolating the content of container 10 from the outside influence, and allowing desiccant packets 150 to absorb humidity received from the content of container 10 through passages 112A.

Reference is made now to FIG. 7, which is schematic illustration of cap 100A, comprising cap 100 according to embodiments of the present invention and child-proof/child-resistant means 160 enabling access to rotate cap 100 to open or to close it only via the rotation of child-resistant means 160. Cap 100A according to embodiments of the present invention may be provided with any suitable child-proof means 160, such as the means requiring, in order to open cap 100, that a pressing force along arrow A is first provided enabling engagement of child-proof means 160 with cap 100 and only then applying opening turning force according to arrow B.

Reference is made now to FIG. 8, which is a schematic cross section illustration of cap 800, and to FIG. 8A, which is a partial enlarged illustration of the cap 800 according to embodiments of the present invention. Cap 800 may comprise, according to embodiments of the present invention, case 801 comprising first cylindrical enclosure part 102 defining a first enclosure space located farther from the open end of cap 800, having a first diameter and a first depth; and a second cylindrical enclosure part 104 defining a second enclosure space located proximal to the open end of cap 800 and having a second diameter and second depth. Enclosure part 104 may have a diameter bigger than the diameter of enclosure part 102. Enclosure part 102 and enclosure part 104 may be connected by connection shoulders 105, forming shoulders plane 105A which is substantially perpendicular to a common central axis of case 101. Enclosure part 104 may be provided with fastening means, such as internal thread 103, adapted for providing fastening means to a respective thread 10A made on the neck's opening of container body 10. It will be appreciated that the fastening means may be realized using means other than internal thread 103, providing tight coupling of cap 800 to the container's opening when desired, such as snap-on means (not shown) or bayonet (not shown). Cap 800 may also include a child proof/child-resistant opening feature as was described above.

Cap 800 may further comprise sealing means 810, such as membrane or disk which may be made of material suitable for long-term sealing, such as aluminum foil or plastic composite or the like. Sealing means 810 may also provide a temper evident safety as known in the industry. Sealing means may be flexible or rigid, it may have its both faces finished in the same way (e.g. laminated) or differently—as may be dictated by the specific requirements. The circumferential areas 810A and 810B defined on the face of sealing means 800 that faces into cap 800 and on its face facing outside of cap 800, respectively, may be provided with adhering means, such as adhesive that may be activated (i.e. cause the adhesive layer to cure and bond together surfaces that are on both sides of the adhesive layer) by the application of activation energy, such as ultrasonic energy or induction. According to embodiments of the present invention the activation off adhesive layer provided on area 810A may be made without activating the adhesive layer provided on area 810B, and vice versa. Further, according to embodiments of the present invention, first adhering force provided between area 810A of sealing means 800, and area 105A of shoulders 105 may be different from second adhering force provided between area 810B of sealing means 800 and edge 10B of opening of container 10, after both adhesive layers have been activated and cured.

Sealing means 810 may be adhered onto area 105A of shoulders 105 after desiccant packet 150 has been inserted into and secured in enclosure space of first enclosure part 102, so as to hermetically seal and close desiccant packet 150 inside enclosure part 102. This hermetic closure allows caps 800 to maintain the desiccant features of desiccant packet 150 for long periods. When cap 800 is provided for closing a container, such as container 10, with sensitive content in it, after cap 800 has been tightly closed, e.g. by threading, onto the container, the adhesive layer provided on area 810B may be activated, thus providing enhanced hermetic sealing between the ambient and the content of the container. As discussed above, second adhering force, acting between area 10B and area 810B, may be different from first adhering force acting between area 810A and area 105A. For example, second adhering force may be stronger than first adhering force.

At the end of the first period of time of the usage of container 10, when long-period storage of its content ends, and the content of the container, such as container 10, is required for use, cap 800 may be removed from container 10, for example by unthreading it off container 10. Due to the difference in the adhering forces between first and second adhering forces, when cap 800 is removed from container 10, sealing means 810 remains on the opening of container 10, maintaining the hermetic sealing as before, while desiccant packet 150 becomes exposed to the ambient conditions. At this stage container 10 may be opened, to enable first use of its content, for example by manual removal of sealing means 810 off the container's opening. Once some of the content of container 10 has been taken from the container, for example pills, medicine, etc., cap 800 may be returned to container 10 and firmly be closed on it, thereby enabling desiccant packet 150 to control the ambient conditions inside container 10. During the second period of usage of container 10 and cap 800, periodical opening an closing of container 10, for example once, twice or three times a day, may take place. Each opening of container 10, by the removal of cap 800, may cause entry of poor quality atmosphere into container 10. Short opening of the container, as possible, is recommended. Each time cap 800 is re-closed the ambient conditions inside container 10, for example with relative humidity above the required, needs to be improved. This is achieved by the drying feature of desiccant packet 150.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A desiccant cap (100) for a container (10), the cap comprising: a case (101) comprising: a first enclosure part (102) defining a first space; a second enclosure part (104) defining a second space; a desiccant case (150) wholly encased within said first space; a first sealing layer (110); and a second sealing layer (112); wherein said second sealing layer is attached onto the opening of said first enclosure part and completely closing said first space and said desiccant case in said first space, wherein said second sealing layer comprising one or more passages (112A) through it to allow passage of at least one of air, gas and humidity through it; and wherein said first sealing layer is attached to said second sealing layer on its face facing away from said first space, said first sealing layer is adapted to prevent passage of humidity through it.
 2. The desiccant cap of claim 1, wherein: said first space having a first diameter and a first depth, said second space having a second diameter and a second depth, said second diameter is bigger than said first diameter; said desiccant cap further comprising shoulders (105) formed between said first and said second space enclosures, said shoulders defining a partitioning line between said first and said second enclosure spaces.
 3. The desiccant cap of claim 2 wherein said second sealing layer is attached onto said shoulders.
 4. The desiccant cap of claim 2 wherein said first sealing layer comprising adhering means disposed over the outer perimeter of said first sealing layer on its face facing away from said first space, said adhering means is adapted to adhere said first sealing layer to the opening of said container.
 5. The desiccant cap of claim 4, wherein said adhering means is an adhesive material adapted to be activated and cured by application of one or more from a list consisting ultrasonic radiation, induction heating and application of pressure onto said perimeter provided with said adhering means.
 6. The desiccant cap of claim 1, wherein said second enclosure space comprise tightening means (103) adapted for tightening said cap onto said container.
 7. The desiccant cap of claim 6 wherein said tightening means is a thread made on the inner face of a cylindrical part of said second enclosure.
 8. The desiccant cap of claim 5 wherein the adhering force of said second sealing layer to said first enclosure and the adhering force of said first sealing layer to the opening of said container are greater than the adhering force between said first and said second sealing layers.
 9. The desiccant cap of claim 5 further comprising child-resistant means (160) enabling access to rotate said desiccant cap to open or to close only via the rotation of said child-resistant means.
 10. The desiccant cap of claim 9, wherein opening of said desiccant cap is enabled only when said child-resistant means is pressed onto said desiccant cap with a pressing force larger than a defined amount and then rotated to open.
 11. A method for controlling the ambient inside a container, comprising: providing a desiccant cap, said desiccant cap comprising: a case (101) comprising: a first enclosure part (102) defining a first space; a second enclosure part (104) defining a second space; a first sealing layer (110); and a second sealing layer (112); providing a desiccant case (150) so as to be wholly encased within said first space; adhering said second sealing layer onto the opening of said first enclosure part and completely closing said first space and said desiccant case in said first space, wherein said second sealing layer comprising one or more passages (112A) through it to allow passage of at least one of air, gas and humidity through it; and wherein said first sealing layer is attached to said second sealing layer on its face facing away from said first space, said first sealing layer is adapted to prevent passage of humidity through it.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: providing adhering means disposed over the outer perimeter of said first sealing layer on its face facing away from said first space, said adhering means is adapted to adhere said first sealing layer to the opening of said container.
 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising: closing said container with said desiccant cap,; and activating said adhering means by application of one or more from a list consisting ultrasonic radiation, induction heating and application of pressure onto said perimeter provided with said adhering means. 